5 players who could be nice surprises for the Rams in 2024

IV: This new addition will be walking a tight rope in 2024

The LA Rams see a great deal more potential than I had seen when surveying the list of potential free agents who may be targeted by the front office. But the more that I learn about 6-foot-7 251-pound tight end Colby Parkinson, the more I am learning to like about him.

The offense needs to reformulate their red zone strategy. Against the Detroit Lions in the Wild Card Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs, the Rams were denied in the red zone in all three occasions. The Lions, conversely, scored on all three red zone appearances. The final score was decided by a single point. While the team suffered a setback when starting tight end Tyler Higbee suffered a serious ACL Injury, one of the offseason priorities must address that shortfall.

Landing a bigger target to throw to in the red zone is a fundamentally sound strategyto better the team's chances. While Colby Parkinson was not used heavily in the Seattle Seahawks offense, when he did get work he made the most of it. In four seasons, he played just 1,178 offensive snaps. He appeared nearly half as often on their special teams, at 513 special teams snaps.

Over the course of his four seasons, he caught 57 of 78 passes thrown his way (for an impressive career catch rate of 73.1 percent) for 618 yards, 29 first downs, and four touchdowns. Because he played in the offense of former Rams TE coach Shane Waldron, the team believes that many of the offensive principles learned in the Seahawks offense will translate rather quickly into the Rams offensive nomenclature.

I believe that Parkinson is at that point of his NFL career when he is ready to make a huge leap forward, and it's clear by the terms of his new contract that he will get that chance by playing in horns. I believe that Colby Parkinson could put up 100+ receiving yards in one of his first four games in the Rams offense. I believe that will be a pleasant surprise to many.